Du Barry Was a Lady

Film Version

Du Barry Was a Lady [video art]

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter (and Others)
Screenplay by Irving Brecher, Nancy Hamilton, and Wilkie C. Mahoney, based on the play by Herbert Fields and Buddy G. DeSylva

A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Release
(1943; 101 minutes; Color)
Produced by Arthur Freed
Directed by Roy Del Ruth
Cinematography by Karl Freund
Choreography by Charles Walters
Art Direction by Cedric Gibbons
Set Design by Edwin B. Willis and Henry Grace
Costumes by Irene, Howard Shoup, and Gile Steele
Musical Adaptation by Roger Edens
Music Direction by Georgie Stoll
Orchestrations by George Bassman, Lee Arnaud, Alec Stordahl, and Sy Oliver
Musical Presentation by Merrill Pye

Du Barry Was a Lady [movie poster]

Cast

Red Skelton (Louis Blore / King Louis XV)
Lucille Ball (May Daly / Madame DuBarry)
Gene Kelly (Alec Howe / Black Arrow)
Virginia O'Brien (Ginny / Lady of the Court)
"Rags" Ragland (Charlie / Dauphin)
Zero Mostel (Rami the Swami / Taliostro)

Donald Meek (Mr. Jones / Duc de Choiseul). Douglass Dumbrille (Willie / Duc de Rigor). George Givot (Cheezy / Count de Roquefort), Louise Beavers (Niagara), Charles Coleman (Doorman / DuBarry's Gatekeeper), and Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra

Note: Lucille Ball's vocals are dubbed by Martha Mears




Musical Numbers

    Songs by Cole Porter:

  • "Do I Love You?" - Alec
  • "Katie Went to Haiti" [instrumental] - "Duke" Dorsey and Band
  • "Katie Went to Haiti" [vocal] - The Pied Pipers
  • "Taliostro's Dance"
  • "Friendship" - Louie, May, Alec, Ginny and Dorsey
  • "Well, Did You Evah?" [underscore only]
  • "But in the Morning, No" [underscore only]

    • Songs by Other Writers:

  • "Du Barry Was a Lady" (Ralph Freed and Burton Lane) - May
  • "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" (Ned Washington and George Bassman) - Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
  • "I Love an Esquire Girl" (Ralph Freed, Lew Brown and Roger Edens) - Louie
  • "No Matter How You Slice It, It's Still Salome" (Roger Edens) - Ginny
  • "Madame, I Love Your Crepes Suzettes" (Ralph Freed, Burton Lane and Lew Brown)
  • "Ladies of the Bath" (Roger Edens)

Soundtrack Recording

  • Compact Disc, 1997 [Great Movie Themes 60010] (with "The Sky's the Limit" and "42nd Street" soundtracks)
    • "Du Barry Was A Lady" [Freed/Lane] (5:47)
    • "Well, Git It" [Oliver] (6:42)
    • "Do I Love You" [Porter] (4:46)
    • "Salome" [Freed / Harburg / Lane] (3:16)
    • "I Love An Esquire Girl" [Brown / Edens / Freed] (4:41)
    • "Katie Went To Haiti" [Porter] (3:41)
    • "Madame, I Love Your Crepes Suzettes" [Brown / Freed / Lane] (2:47)
    • "Friendship" [Porter] (2:47)

    Note the inconsistencies between the recording credits and the film credits

  • Compact Disc, 2004 [Rhino Handmade RHM2 7851] (with five numbers from "Meet the People")

    • Main Title
    • "Du Barry Was A Lady"
    • "Nightclub Medley" (Partial Outtakes)
    • The Oxford Boys Medley
    • Medley: "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You / We'll Get It"
    • "When Love Beckoned (on 52nd Street)"
    • "Do I Love You?"
    • "Do I Love You?"
    • "Salome"
    • "I Love An Esquire Girl"
    • Medley: Friendship / Do I Love You? / But In The Morning, No"
    • "Ladies of the Bath"
    • "Katie Went to Haiti"
    • "Madame, I Love Your Crepes Suzette"
    • "Song of Rebellion"
    • "Friendship"
    • "Royal Tasters" (Outtake)
    • "Melody in A" (Outtake)
    Go to the Original Stage Production of Du Barry Was a Lady